Delivering Destruction: American Firepower and Amphibious Assault from Tarawa to Iwo Jima

The U.S. Marine Corps' success in the Pacific War was due to committed theoretical preparation and courageous battlefield action, but this conventional narrative fails to account for interwar deficiencies in fire control and coordination. Delivering Destruction is the first detailed study of American triphibious firepower coordination in the Pacific War, highlighting the importance of wartime adaptation, battlefield coordination, and the human element in naval combat.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: Naval Institute Press

The United States Marine Corps achieved remarkable operational success in the Pacific War, largely attributed to two key themes: rigorous theoretical preparation and courageous battlefield action. In essence, the Marines grappled with the complexities of amphibious assaults in the 1920s and 1930s, developing the necessary tools and methods to seize hostile beaches. When Japanese forces launched their devastating attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Corps dispatched its brave and spirited infantrymen to advance across the enemy-held islands of the South and Central Pacific. However, the true story of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps triumph goes far beyond this conventional narrative. While it does capture essential elements, it fails to account for significant interwar deficiencies in fire control and coordination, as well as the critical wartime development of those capabilities between 1942 and 1945.
Delivering Destruction, authored by Lieutenant Colonel Timothy J. Hemler, is the first comprehensive study of American triphibious (land, sea, and air) firepower coordination in the Pacific War. Hemler delves into the development of fire coordination teams and tactics by the Amphibious Corps in the Central Pacific, highlighting the significance of wartime adaptation, battlefield coordination, and the human element in naval combat. Through a "bottom-up" approach, American troops and officers devised practical solutions on the field, learning to effectively apply and integrate air and naval support during contested amphibious assaults. This remarkable adaptability allowed the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to mount tremendous, synchronized firepower at the beachhead, a capability honed through three years of grueling wartime adaptation.
The Marines' ability to coordinate their firepower effectively was a crucial factor in their success in the Pacific. By leveraging their expertise in amphibious operations and their understanding of the terrain, they were able to launch coordinated attacks that crippled Japanese forces and facilitated the Allied advance. The development of fire coordination teams and tactics played a pivotal role in this coordination, allowing the Marines to synchronize their efforts and maximize their firepower.
Furthermore, the Marines' commitment to innovation was instrumental in their success. They were quick to adopt new technologies and techniques, such as aerial bombardment and amphibious assault vehicles, which allowed them to overcome the challenges posed by the enemy and achieve their objectives. The development of fire control and coordination capabilities between 1942 and 1945 was a significant milestone in the Pacific War. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps invested substantial resources in improving their fire control systems, training their personnel, and developing new tactics and strategies. This investment paid off, as the Marines were able to mount coordinated and effective firepower that helped to turn the tide of the war.
In conclusion, the U.S. Marine Corps' operational success in the Pacific War was largely attributed to two dominant themes: rigorous theoretical preparation and courageous battlefield action. However, the full story of the Corps' triumph goes beyond this conventional narrative. By adapting and innovating in the field, the Marines were able to overcome interwar deficiencies in fire control and coordination, mount tremendous firepower at the beachhead, and achieve their objectives. The development of fire coordination teams and tactics played a critical role in this success, and the Marines' commitment to innovation was instrumental in their ability to overcome the challenges of the Pacific War.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781682471340